‘Orange Is the New Black' Star Dascha Polanco Facing Assault Charges for Allegedly Punching Teenage Girl

It looks like legal troubles have spilled into Dascha Polanco's real life.

The "Orange Is the New Black" star appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday to face four counts of assault and harassment for allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old girl in July.

Michelle Cardona claims the 33-year-old actress punched her in the head, pulled her hair and used her fingernails to scratch up her arms while at Cardona's Upper Manhattan home, according to court documents obtained by Page Six, which first reported the news.

E! News has reached out to Polanco's camp and the New York Police Department for comment.

Polanco has not addressed the situation, but her lawyer Gerald Lefcourt argues that Cardona's claim is just a plot to get money from the star and insists that his client was set up. "This is an attempt to extort money by making a false claim," Lefcourt told People.

"We expect the case to be dismissed."

Polanco's next court date is set for January.

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